DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday UCL Picks

For detailed odds and stats, check out the Fantasy Champions League: Tuesday Cheat Sheet.

MATCHES (EST)

3:00 p.m: Atletico Madrid v. Borussia Dortmund
3:00 p.m: Tottenham v. PSV Eindhoven
3:00 p.m: Schalke v. Galatasaray
3:00 p.m: Napoli v. Paris Saint-Germain
3:00 p.m: Porto v. Lokomotiv Moscow
3:00 p.m: Inter Milan v. Barcelona

FORWARDS

Neymar, PSG at NAP ($11,100): Despite continued domestic league dominance, Neymar has been pretty disappointing in two of his three Champions League starts, though he displayed his upside against Crvena Zvezda by scoring three goals on nine shots (seven on goal), sending in nine crosses and drawing eight (!) fouls for 60.75 fantasy points. He managed 16.25 at home against Napoli two weeks ago, which is a pretty excellent score for someone who didn't have a goal or an assist, but his high price ($11,600 for that match) pretty much required an appearance on the scoresheet. That is the situation once again, and while PSG are slight favorites away to Napoli, this match won't be easy. Then again, Neymar has the highest floor on the slate and only Harry Kane has higher anytime goal scorer odds. If you believe in PSG but don't want to pay so much, Kylian Mbappe ($9,700) has eight goals on 31 shots (15 on goal) in his last six starts while Angel Di Maria ($8,300) has one goal on 15 shots (six on goal), three assists and 25 crosses in his last four games. And, of course, we can't forget about Edinson Cavani ($8,000) if he starts after recovering from a thigh injury, though his greatest asset is that he's likely to be the lowest owned of the PSG attackers.

Harry Kane, TOT v. PSV ($9,500): Kane is starting to look like his old self, as he's scored two goals on 15 shots, including nine on goal, in his past three games, and that includes a one-shot dud against Manchester City. He scored once on six shots (three on goal) in the reverse fixture in Eindhoven, and he comes into Tuesday's slate with the highest anytime goal scorer odds while Tottenham have the highest implied goal total. His salary makes it a bit tough for cash games because he still needs a goal to really make value, but Kane has arguably the best opportunity among forwards on the slate. I also wouldn't shy away from PSV, and specifically Hirving Lozano ($8,100), who continues to tear up the Eredivisie, scoring five goals on 24 shots and assisting three others in his last seven domestic games, and he already has a goal against Spurs and an assist against Inter during this year's Champions League.

Moussa Marega, POR v. LKM ($6,900): Marega is probably more suitable for GPPs, but he has a similar profile to Kane, as he will lead the line for the biggest favorite on the slate, though one with a slightly lower team implied goal total. Marega has also been playing very well, as not only has he scored in back-to-back Champions League matches (including a penalty in Moscow in the reverse fixture), but he's also scored in back-to-back domestic league games, taking four shots in each outing. Porto often get overlooked on Champions League slates because of the big-name clubs, but they shouldn't be ignored this time around given their matchup. If you'd rather not trust the Primeira Liga leaders, spending up another $300 will get you Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne, who has seven goals on 48 shots (15 on goal) in 10 Serie A appearances (nine starts) as well as two Champions League goals on 12 shots (four on goal) in three starts, and the Napoli-PSG match has the second-highest implied goal total on the slate. Or you could pay even less for teammate Dries Mertens ($6,300), who has six goals on 14 shots (nine on goal) and two assists on 15 chances created in his last four games, including a goal against PSG.

MIDFIELDERS

Philippe Coutinho, BAR at INT ($7,900): The matchup away to Inter isn't an easy one, and Coutinho didn't have the easiest time against them at home in the reverse fixture, scoring 9.75 fantasy points thanks to three shots, three crosses, three fouls drawn, two interceptions and one tackle won. The possible, though unlikely, return of Lionel Messi ($10,900) clouds Barcelona's set-piece situation a bit, but Coutinho will likely have a sizable role in that department. This feels like a slate where you probably aren't paying up for a midfield-only player in cash games, but if you find yourself doing just that, Coutinho makes for a fine play and comes cheaper than Schalke's Yehven Konoplyanka ($8,500) and Tottenham's Christian Eriksen ($8,700).

Nabil Bentaleb, S04 v. GAL ($4,200): Bentaleb has taken 13 of Schalke's last 14 corners in Bundesliga play, though he started just one of their first three Champions League matches. Schalke are the third-biggest favorite on the slate, and getting their set-piece taker for less than $4,500 is a solid opportunity, especially since he scored his second goal of the season this past weekend, and he's sent in 24 crosses and won six tackles in his last three starts. If Bentaleb doesn't start, Sebastian Rudy ($3,600) could be on set pieces, just like he was in their last UCL match, though there's always a little fear that Konoplyanka could poach some.

Younes Belhanda, GAL at S04 ($4,600): On the other side of the Schalke match is Belhanda, who continues to take most set pieces for Galatasaray, though he's a more attacking player overall than Bentaleb or Rudy. He recently sent in 13 crosses against Fenerbahce, and while that kind of volume shouldn't be expected away to Schalke, it's not a matchup worth avoiding, especially after he had 10.00 fantasy points without a goal or assist in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.

DEFENDERS

Alex Telles, POR v. LKM ($6,300): Porto are the biggest favorites on the slate and share the best clean sheet odds with Schalke, so why wouldn't we roster their primary set-piece taker who is also eligible for the clean-sheet bonus? No player has sent in more crosses during Champions League play than Telles, who also sent in 30 crosses in his last three domestic games, including 13 against Maritimo this past weekend. He's always going to be highly owned in cash games, but he has arguably the highest floor on the slate among defenders.

Kieran Trippier, TOT v. PSV ($6,000): Trippier continues to take most of Tottenham's set pieces, though it's worth pointing out that he only had nine crosses in his past two games. He doesn't shoot much (almost at all) in open play, and his upside is really dependent on providing an assist to one of the many attackers around him. It's a steep price to pay, but with Tottenham coming in with the second-highest win odds and highest implied goal total, fantasy players could be pairing up the two most expensive defenders in cash games.

Sime Vrsaljko, INT v. BAR ($4,300): Inter Milan are the highest-crossing team in Serie A, averaging 31.09 per match, which is 7.82 more per match than Everton, who lead the Premier League, 8.67 more than Nantes, who lead Ligue 1, 7.04 more than Bayern Munich, who lead the Bundesliga, and 0.72 more than Eibar, who lead La Liga. Additionally, no player has sent in more crosses for Inter over the past four games than Vrsaljko, who actually only played three games in that span. A partial role on set pieces gives him a decent floor, and while the matchup against Barcelona isn't ideal, Vrsaljko's low price while playing at home helps alleviate the concern.

GOALKEEPERS

Samir Handanovic, INT v. BAR ($4,400): Handanovic showed the possibilities of rostering a good goalkeeper away to Barcelona in their first matchup, finishing with 14.0 fantasy points despite losing 2-0. Nine saves helped him reach that total, and a matchup at home, where he's not as big of an underdog, could have him reaching even higher. It's always tough paying up for goalkeepers in the Champions League because you want more upside from attacking teams, and Handanovic provides decent salary savings to spend up elsewhere.